A bandura (Ukrainian: банду́ра{{#invoke:Category handler|main}}) is a Ukrainian, plucked string, folk instrument. It combines elements of the zither and lute and, up until the 1940s, was also often referred to by the term kobza. Early instruments had 6 to 12 strings. In the 20th century, the number of strings increased to 31 strings, and up to 68 strings on so-called 'concert' instruments.<ref name=UBC>Mizynec, V. Folk Instruments of Ukraine. Bayda Books, Melbourne, Australia, 1987, 48с.</ref>

Musicians who play the bandura are referred to as bandurists. Some traditional bandura players, often blind, were referred to as kobzars.